Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Sometimes (ie the past few months) I'm really lazy about the way I cook. Like yesterday. I was really craving something chocolately and delicious, and I haven't made any desserts in a long time. However, the idea of going whole-hog into an elaborate and time-consuming cookie recipe did not sound so appealing.

I remembered that we had a few packages of Ghiradelli double dark chocolate brownie mix left in a cupboard somewhere (actually, I knew exactly which cupboard they were in...how could I forget?). But I already had my heart set on cookies. And so! These were born:

I just realized how crummy of a picture this is...I think I'll go clean my lens. And stage it better next time (but those cookies I pulled out were so tempting, I had to eat some...)

1. Mix everything together. The dough will be relatively stiff and very sticky.

2. Drop in small spoonfulls onto cookie sheet. Warning: the dough is very sticky! You will need to spray your cookie sheet. I used parchment paper and I had difficulty getting them off. I had to peel the paper off and even then a couple cookie bottoms didn't make it.

3. Cook in oven preheated to 350 degrees and cook for 9-11 minutes (mine went for maybe a little over 11 minutes but we have a stupid oven. Test doneness by poking them gently with your finger. The cookie will give but nothing should stick to you. They will be puffy.

4. Let cool about 5-10 minutes on the sheet, then transfer to cooling rack. The cookies will sort of deflate. They are still delicious, and quite chewy. They taste like brownies. Go figure.

Monday, October 22, 2012

While I was working in Tooele the past couple of weeks, I had no time for breakfast before I left the house. Therefore, each Sunday I would make these muffins to take for breakfast in the car throughout the week. I tried two varieties, banana and peach. The peach flavor sort of dissolved in the baking, so I think I would add probably an extra cup of peaches if I were to make them again. I considered making pomegranate with the frozen jewels (that's what they're called, right?) we have, and I'm sure any kind of fruit will do just fine in this kind of muffin.

The base recipe was essentially the banana bread muffin recipe I've posted before, only with alterations in the flour (I take it no one ever made those muffins when I posted it before because the flour is GREATLY under-measured. Sorry about that.) Also, sorry I don't have any pictures. I never really had the time or thought to do it. But please please please trust me they are really good. Anyway, here we go:

6. Sift flour, baking powder, soda, and salt together. Add to mix until just blended. Add cinnamon, nutmeg, and oats. If the batter is not the right thickness, add a little more flour until it is (I don't know how to describe it...not very runny, sort of chunky?).

7. Turn into prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30-35 minutes (depending on your oven) or until pick inserted into center of muffins comes out clean and they look and smell delicious.

I like macaroni and cheese. I used to have it maybe every couple of days before I got married (the alternate days were nearly always pizza...what was wrong with me). I hardly ever eat it now, so we don't really buy it. When I'm craving it, I am sad. Until I finally sat down and did a little research on how to make it on my own!

When most people hear "home-made macaroni and cheese" they think of a breaded casserole that you eat with ketchup or something. This is like legit macaroni and cheese in a pot like you'd get in a box. Only better because it isn't made with powdered cheese curds or whatever, and you can make it from what you have on hand.

It took me a couple of tries to get this recipe to be really good. The first time it was incredibly bitter and not very creamy. Also, when I did this, I wasn't really measuring, I was just going by proportions, so hopefully you will still be able to follow.

In my research (during which I became quite familiarly acquainted with Paula Dean's personality during a side track) I learned that you must have an appropriate amount of cream in order for the cheese to bond and not clump. Or somesuch. That is why most mac and cheese recipes require cream. However! I don't keep cream on hand. It also supposedly turns out better if you use two to four different types of cheeses. But all we have is medium cheddar. So there are a lot of other options for making this kind of macaroni and cheese if you go buy different ingredients (or maybe you regularly stock your fridge with cream and three types of cheese), but this recipe is mostly to make it with what you have on hand and make it taste delicious! Now, read on, MacDuff!

Creamy deliciousness.

Home-made Macaroni and Cheesefrom THE MIND OF ME
serves about 1-2 people

1 cup or however much pasta you are making (I like elbows chiffere, the ridges catch more sauce)

1/4-1/2 cup stick butter or margarine (depending on how buttery you want it...I like it buttery)

1/2 cup milk (keep more on hand in case you need it later)

1/2-1 cup cheese of choice (if you use a milder or white cheese, you might want to supplement with a little of something sharper)

fresh ground black pepper

sweet basil (dried/flaked/whatever...in your spice cupboard)

1. Boil and drain the pasta and return it to the pot on low-medium heat.

2. Add the butter and stir around until pasta is coated.

3. Add the milk.

4. Add the cheese. Make sure the heat is up enough to melt the cheese relatively quickly (turn it up if you have to, I don't remember how hot I had it in the end). Stir the cheese into pasta slowly, making sure it melts and doesn't clump. If you need to, add a little more milk, or if you want, more cheese.

5. Grind in a bit of pepper. Don't add too much! The cheese will already be a little bitter and you don't want to overdo it. Stir again, keeping an eye on the cheese and making sure it has melted properly.

6. Add a little basil, to taste. The mildly sweet herb will help to offset a bit of the bitterness.

7. Taste test! Add more of whatever you think it needs, or just eat it! Say yum.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

I really love cupcakes. Mucho. And while the regular flavor kind with regular flavor frosting is my favorite, I love experimenting with different kinds, especially when it means I don't have to frost 3 dozen tiny cakes. Which I've done. And I wanted to shoot Betty Crocker.

And so, when I saw this recipe for "self-frosting" nutella cupcakes on Pinterest (it doesn't always have practical application, but this was one of those times when I trusted it), I decided to try them as a nice treat, because I think it's been like two weeks since I've made dessert, and that's a grave oversight.

NUTELLA. It rules the universe in some places.

The only problem I had with these was that it was nearly IMPOSSIBLE to "swirl" the batter to make it look even remotely nice. I tried using a chopstick first and when that was impossible, I quit and switched to a butter knife, which was even more difficult. I don't think skipping the muffin papers would help either, because the dough would probably stick to the pan, even if it was sprayed. So just be patient as you are swirling in the nutella and keep chanting to yourself "nutella, nutella, nutella..." or whatever it takes to keep the end goal in mind. Because they are really delicious.

The only other thing is that the cupcakes get firm around the edges really fast, so you're probably going to have to eat them really quickly. OH WELL.

Preheat the oven to 325F. In a medium bowl, beat the butter, oil and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth.

In a small bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder and salt; add to the butter mixture and beat on low speed just until combined. Divide the batter between 12 paper-lined muffin cups. Drop a spoonful of Nutella on top of each, and swirl through the batter with the tip of a bamboo skewer or knife (or chopstick. Or claws of death-- patience, young padawan!).

Swirl away, my son

Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until springy to the touch. Cool on a wire rack.